-The Eight Limbs - The Core of Yoga

by William J.D. Doran

• The practice of yoga is an art and science dedicated to creating union between body, mind and spirit.

• Its objective is to assist the practitioner in using the breath and body to foster an awareness of ourselves as individualized beings intimately connected to the unified whole of creation.

• In short it is about making balance and creating equanimity so as to live in peace, good health and harmony with the greater whole.

• The foundations of yoga philosophy were written in The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, approximately 200 AD.

• The core of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra is an eight-limbed path that forms the structural framework for yoga practice.

• Each is part of a holistic focus which eventually brings completeness to the individual as they find their connectivity to the divine.

• Because we are all uniquely individual a person can emphasize one branch and then move on to another as they round out their understanding.

   In brief the eight limbs, or steps to yoga, are as follows:

• Yama :   Universal morality• Niyama :   Personal observances• Asanas :    Body postures• Pranayama : Breathing exercises, and control

of prana• Pratyahara : Control of the senses• Dharana :   Concentration and cultivating inner perceptual awareness• Dhyana :   Devotion, Meditation on the Divine• Samadhi :   Union with the Divine      

Yamas (Universal Morality)

•      The yamas are broken down into five "wise characteristics."

• Rather than a list of dos and don’ts, "they tell us that our fundamental nature is compassionate, generous, honest and peaceful." 

Ahimsa Compassion for all living things• The word AHIMSA literally means not to injure

or show cruelty to any creature or any person in any way whatsoever.

• AHIMSA is, however, more than just lack of violence as adapted in yoga. It means kindness, friendliness, and thoughtful consideration of other people and things. It also has to do with our duties and responsibilities.

• AHIMSA implies that in every situation we should adopt a considerate attitude and do no harm.

Satya Commitment to Truthfulness 

• SATYA means "to speak the truth," yet it is not always desirable to speak the truth on all occasions, for it could harm someone unnecessarily.

• We have to consider what we say, how we say it, and in what way it could affect others. If speaking the truth has negative consequences for another, then it is better to say nothing.

• SATYA should never come into conflict with our efforts to behave with ahimsa.

• This precept is based on the understanding that honest communication and action form the bedrock of any healthy relationship, community, or government, and that deliberate deception, exaggerations, and mistruths harm others.   

Asteya Non-stealing 

• ASTEYA means "to steal"; asteya is the opposite-to take nothing that does not belong to us. This also means that if we are in a situation where someone entrusts something to us or confides in us, we do not take advantage of him or her.

• Non-stealing includes not only taking what belongs to another without permission, but also using something for a different purpose to that intended, or beyond the time permitted by its owner.  

• The practice of ASTEYA implies not taking anything that has not been freely given.

• This includes fostering a consciousness of how we ask for others’ time for inconsiderate behavior demanding another’s attention when not freely given is, in effect, stealing.

Brahmacharya Sense control 

• BRAHMACHARYAis used mostly in the sense of abstinence, particularly in relationship to sexual activity.

• BRAHMACHARYA suggests that we should form relationships that foster our understanding of the highest truths.

• BRAHMACHARYA does not necessarily imply celibacy. Rather, it means responsible behavior with respect to our goal of moving toward the truth.

• Practicing BRAHMACHARYA means that we use our sexual energy to regenerate our connection to our spiritual self. It also means that we don’t use this energy in any way that might harm others.

Aparigraha Neutralizing the desire to acquire and hoard wealth

• APARIGRAHA means to take only what is necessary, and not to take advantage of a situation or act greedily.

• We should only take what we have earned; if we take more, we are exploiting someone else.

• The yogi feels that the collection or hoarding of things implies a lack of faith in God and in himself to provide for his future.

• APARIGRAHA also implies letting go of our attachments to things and an understanding that impermanence and change are the only constants.

Niyamas(Personal Observances)

• Niyamas means "rules" or "laws."  • These are the rules prescribed for personal

observance. • Like the yamas, the five niyamas are not exercises or

actions to be simply studied. • They represent far more than an attitude. • Compared with the yamas, the niyamas are more

intimate and personal. • They refer to the attitude we adopt toward

ourselves as we create a code for living soulfully

Sauca Purity 

• The first niyama is sauca, meaning purity and cleanliness. • SAUCA has both an inner and an outer aspect. Outer cleanliness

simply means keeping ourselves clean. Inner cleanliness has as much to do with the healthy, free functioning of our bodily organs as with the clarity of our mind.

• Practicing asanas or pranayama are essential means for attending to this inner sauca.

• Asanas tones the entire body and removes toxins while pranayama cleanses our lungs, oxygenates our blood and purifies our nerves.

• "But more important than the physical cleansing of the body is the cleansing of the mind of its disturbing emotions like hatred, passion, anger, lust, greed, delusion and pride." 

Santosa Contentment 

• Another niyama is SANTOSA, modesty and the feeling of being content with what we have.

• To be at peace within and content with one's lifestyle finding contentment even while experiencing life’s difficulties for life becomes a process of growth through all kinds of circumstances.

• We should accept that there is a purpose for everything - yoga calls it karma – and we cultivate contentment 'to accept what happens'. It means being happy with what we have rather than being unhappy about what we don't have.

Tapas Disciplined use of our

energy • TAPAS refers to the activity of keeping the body fit

or to confront and handle the inner urges without outer show.

• Literally it means to heat the body and, by so doing, to cleanse it. Behind the notion of tapas lies the idea we can direct our energy to enthusiastically engage life and achieve our ultimate goal of creating union with the Divine.

• TAPAS helps us burn up all the desires that stand in our way of this goal. 

• Another form of tapas is paying attention to what we eat. Attention to body posture, attention to eating habits, attention to breathing patterns - these are all tapas.

Svadhyaya Self study 

• The fourth niyama is SVADHYAYA. • Sva means "self' adhyaya means "inquiry" or

"examination". • Any activity that cultivates self-reflective

consciousness can be considered svadhyaya. • It means to intentionally find self-awareness in all our

activities and efforts, even to the point of welcoming and accepting our limitations.

• It teaches us to be centered and non-reactive to the dualities, to burn out unwanted and self-destructive tendencies.

Isvarapranidhana Celebration of the Spiritual • ISVARAPRANIDHANA means "to lay all your actions

at the feet of God." • It is the contemplation on God (Isvara) in order to

become attuned to god and god's will. • It is the recognition that the spiritual suffuses

everything and through our attention and care we can attune ourselves with our role as part of the Creator.

• The practice requires that we set aside some time each day to recognize that there is some omnipresent force larger than ourselves that is guiding and directing the course of our lives. 

Hope you enjoy it…

NAMASTE(I bow to you

or the divine being in me recognizes and salutes the divine being in you)

To find more about the eight limbs (these are only 2)http://www.expressionsofspirit.com/yoga/eight-limbs.htm